Artificial Lightning - An Interview

AI: How long have you been interested in the subject of artificial lightning, and weather modification?

JP: Nearly thirty years now.
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AI: Why are you interested in this subject?

JP: Well, to me it's a fascinating subject. Imagine being able to secretly change the weather while simultaneously finding a way to secretly develop high energy weapons - to me that sounds mind bogglingly interesting.
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AI: Are you saying that is what is actually happening?

JP: I believe so. There's every reason to believe that such a program would have to be in operation at this time if the development of high energy weapons, and weather modification is to ever reach a level of proficiency which would allow either to become useful tools in the hands of the U.S. military.
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AI: How long do you believe such a program has been in existence?

JP: It would predate my interest by several decades.
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AI: You're saying that the U.S. has run a secret artificial lightning program for the last fifty years?

JP: I'd say to some extent the program's existence dates back that far.
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AI: But that's a long time to keep anything secret, and from everything we see, or hear about such technology isn't this stuff future weaponry?

JP: While the existence of the A Bomb certainly was not kept secret for very long how to make them was kept secret for many decades. Only a handful of nations possessed the capability until recently. The word secret means many things to many people. I don't suggest that the U.S. is the only nation to develop particle accelerators, to miniturize them, put them on an aircraft, fly them into a thick patch of clouds, and test them. During the Cold War the Soviets would have tinkered with the idea as well. There are few real secrets in the world.
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AI: But again, isn't this technology just too advanced? Something we see in science fiction movies, but just not possible now?

JP: Let's look at what that means for a moment. Is it more plausible that scientist are truly clueless as to the nature of lightning - that we as a species are still just scratching our heads about how a puff of water vapor can generate lightning, and that our technology is just too crude to match that of a cloud?
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AI: There are other natural forces such a hurricanes which are the result of nature, which humans don't possess the ability to duplicate - at least at this time, why is lightning different?

JP: Lightning is a much more localized event than a hurricane. The energy involved in creating lightning is well within our technological ability. No one is arguing that it is impossible, and those who were proposing the development of such technology decades ago suggested that if such weapons were developed that by now they would be deployable.
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AI: But we don't hear much about this. No one is saying that we have these weapons now, so they'd definately be classified as secret. If in fact you are correct, and the U.S. has developed high energy weapons to the point you are arguing then shouldn't we expect these weapons to be declassified soon?

JP: We saw that with the Stealth Fighter. There came a point when the weapon was going to be useful, and so it was deployed. I believe the time may come when artificial lightning weapons, and weather modification will be deployed - but it could be decades until we see this type of weaponry declassified.
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AI: What type of conflict would drive these weapons out of the world of black ops to every day weaponry as seen in Jane's, or the Military Channel?

JP: That's a good question. The more advanced the weapon becomes the less likely anyone is going to want to declassify it. The nature of this weapon is such that it lends a tremendous advantage to anyone possessing it when others do not. It would have to be an all out attack against the U.S., or perhaps a close friend - for example Japan. In such a scenario we'd see China launching an attack against a nation like Japan, and the U.S. would be forced to use it's best weapons - including weapons it very much wants to keep secret.
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AI: One of the advantages to high energy weapons is that it could render missiles obsolete. The development of such a weapon would change combat in many ways wouldn't it?

JP: Yes, and if one side could covertly develop that technology, develop techniques to use it, and then develop counter methods without an adversary doing the same - well just look at Pearl Harbor.
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AI: Do you believe the U.S. is decades ahead?

JP: Absolutely, and with each and every year the gap widens. By the time China develops into a military superpower which it plans to be, the U.S. will be able to shoot down anything China sends into the air. Owning the air allows us to control the conflict - to stop the conflict early.
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AI: That's an amazing claim, do you have anything, anything at all that would support this argument other than speculation.

JP: No, and if I did I'd be in pretty big trouble for revealing what I knew. This is just based upon speculation.
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AI: Is speculating about this a form of treason, here we are on the Internet talking about secret weapons - doesn't that hurt the U.S.?

JP: No, not at all. None of what I've said is beyond the imagination of the average science fiction writer - it's all public domain. I'm just saying it here, and now.
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AI: Which brings me back to my original question, why?

JP: We can't allow the military, intelligence community, and defense sector to be the only voices when it comes to public policy. The U.S. was once a thriving democracy, and I'd like to see that restored to the people before it's lost forever. In a day, and age in which the full resources of the U.S. intelligence community has been turned into a domesitic spying machine a full fledged police state can not be far behind. In fact I speak with so many people, just every day people who already believe the U.S. is already a police state that it isn't funny.
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AI: So this is politics?

JP: I guess if you can say that the preservation of the Republic is politics I'd have to say yes, it's political. Those who are diligently working to create the police state argue that they are defending the Republic, but the regime for which they toil isn't anything like what most Americans grew up with. Something very sinister has taken place, and it is up to the common man, and woman to stand up to it.
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AI: And discussing artificial lightning is a means of defending democracy?

JP: I ask you to imagine a day in which a model, I'm sorry, a News Anchor announces that the U.S. has been involved in a weather modification program which used artificial lightning. How many families, and friends of those killed by lightning would have to ask if their family member's, or friend's life was taken without due process? Was their farm purposely flooded, or subjected to drought?
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AI: That the state had committed murder? That is an incredible allegation!

JP: That's just one of the issues, there's so many more that need to be looked at including whether any election results were altered due to the manipulation of weather? I was watching the Daily Show just a few nights ago, and I was struck with how the audience laughted to a joke Jon Stewart made about the NSA not peeping through the window at our daughters taking their showers.

I believe the NSA has been using super strobes based on artificial lightning to spy on all of us for a very long time - long before 9/11.

Every time a thunderstorm comes rolling through average Joe American's Anytown it's photo-op time for Big Brother. Of course all the information the NSA is collecting, well I'm sure it's for the good of the country - to protect the sheep from the bears in the woods so to speak.

And for all of your readers who are inclined to believe only the best about the broadening powers of the state, well just go back to sleep, the rest of us will wake you up when we arrive at the slaughterhouse. But before you do go back to sleep, ask yourself this - who profits most from the current state of never ending terror we all live in?

The most powerful nation in the history of the world knows exactly where Osama Bin Laden is - yet he remains free to this day. He is the boogey man folks, and the Bush Administration has worked hand in hand with the evil doers in order to destroy the American Democratic Republic which Bush's true, and only constituency has always seen as a threat.

The less democracy the less fear over taxation of the rich which is what this is all about, and what it has always been about. Tax breaks for the rich, a costly senseless unwinable war in Iraq to act as a diversion from the tax breaks, and the destruction of the American Democracy at the hands of the right wing.

There is in fact no doubt in my mind that when the time comes we'll see another major terrorist incident. That attack will allow the next wave of legislation based upon fear to turn this country openly, and officially into the police state which it very much has already become.

The sad thing is millions of people are so complacent, and apathetic that they'd gladly accept a society without rights as long as they feel safe. We've seen the destruction of democracy many times, and it's happened in just the same way. Always a strong man coming along to save freedom from itself. The results are always horrible, and almost always lead to war. War is the organizing principle of society, but it doesn't have to be - sadly we have allowed this regime into power, and the deed is done.
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AI: I believe I understand where you're coming from on this. But shouldn't we trust our military, and our spys to do the right thing? Aren't they honorable men, and women?

JP: There is a huge intelligence community in this country, and we trusted them to protect us from 9/11, and yet that trust was betrayed. We are at war based upon cooked up intelligence provided to the U.N., Congress, and the American people. We can not place the future of our Republic in the hands of the military, and our spys - not unless you actually want to live in a police state.
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AI: Thank you JP.

JP: It was my priviledge.

Note: This interview is in fact a monologue.

A Peace Full Memorial Day

I've never been entirely comfortable with Memorial Day. I'd like to see Memorial Day broken down into at least two separate holidays - maybe four. I'd call one of those days Hero Day, and the other Ancestor Day. I feel that Memorial Day is in fact two days in one, and doesn't do either much justice. Some might also argue that Memorial Day is also a Futility of War Day, and an Honor Those Who Serve Our Nation Day. Certainly those days would be justified!

I feel that it is because Americans are so afraid of dealing with death that Memorial Day is so unclear about exactly what it means to people. Certainly the military aspect is there - it's an institution, but civilians honor other departed civilians on Memorial Day too - and who's to tell them to stop?

Let's look at my proposal to break Memorial Day down into four separate National Holidays:

Ancestor Day would be a wonderful day. It would be a day in which families could get together, and celebrate the elderly, and dearly departed. A run out to the Cemetery could be part of the Ancestor Day weekend, but so too could getting together with the elders, sharing family, and cultural history.

Heros Day would be the celebration of any Hero, not just those who have died in the Military. Firefighters, Police, and Civilian Heros would all be celebrated! The only rule here would be that a Hero would in fact be dead. I know it's a bummer, and lots of Heros are still alive, but you'll see why I have this rule later. We'll even leave it up to the people to recognize who they define as Heros. Certainly it could be a period of recognition which last a whole three day weekend since we're including more Heros. The Heros Day would in fact be most similar to Memorial Day.

Honor Those Who Serve Our Nation Day seems like a good idea too. I believe there a days similar to this already on the books, but no one gets a day off from work - and I think they should. We should have a weekend - a big event - for this type of recognition. We need to reinforce such behavior, we need to elevate such people to a place of honor. It's good for a nation to do so. This day is different from Heros Day in the sense that these folk haven't necessarily departed - they've served, or are currently serving. And the three day weekend would give ample time to focus on the military, police, fire department, rescue squads, nurses, doctors, dispatchers, volunteers, etc., and the role they play in our society. A three day weekend focusing on these folk sounds alright with me!

The Futility of War Day, well that's actually a day we should all be recognizing each, and every day, but just in case it wouldn't be a bad idea to make it an official holiday. Why not take one weekend out of the year in which violence of any kind - whether it be domestic, or international is shown for what it is - not the best option! I don't believe the nation needs to fear itself slip into pacificist isolationism just because the people would take a weekend each year to introspect about all the pain, and loss which violence has caused humanity. And this day doesn't need to be entirely depressing, as much of the celebration could focus on teaching people about alternatives to violence.

With many ideas I presented above, did I mention beer, and potato chips? Yes, there'd be even more time to spend with the family, and an extra paid day from work for each of these holidays.

August doesn't have a national Holiday, and October could use a three day weekend too. There hasn't been any national holidays added in many years, and I feel it's long overdue.